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Expert: - 9/10/2008


Question
my 3 yr old cat is on her secound litter and for a day and a half has had spots of bleeding..very mield.and had givin birth to one still born kitten 24 hours ago .and no more!but has been staying in the box alot and not moving so much as she usualy dose.how would i know if she has passed the placenta or has any more baby's?she is still bleeding a bit,but dosn't seem to be in any pain.could she be morning her baby?is any of this normal?

Answer
Desiree,

Your cat is most likely in pain, not feeling well and in distress. Normal labor and delivery doesn't usually include lethargy, blood loss and trying to keep still. It's quite possible that your cat has a kitten stuck in her birth canal possibly even in the wrong position to come out vaginally. In my experience having any kittens who have been under such stress survive is unlikely. This issue constitutes a medical emergency and your cat needs to be seen by a vet immediately. There is the potential for her to become very sick and possibly even die as a result of complications arising from the issues with this pregnancy. None of what you are seeing is normal and it's quite likely your cat will require surgery to remove deceased kittens from inside of her womb. I really doubt that your vet will find any live kittens in your cat's womb, but there may be one or more newborn kittens to care for in addition to a mom recovering from a seriously complicated pregnancy and delivery. I would strongly advise that you have her spayed at the time of surgery since the vet will already be there and your cat will already be under anesthetic. Since your cat has had such serious complications it's best not to breed her again.

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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